NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has
called on investors to exploit the opportunities
presented in the energy transmission, saying this is an
area which the private sector’s activity was
non-existent, yet the country is engaged in connecting
as many people as possible to electricity.

“As we
invite more investors into energy generation, I would
like to call on the private sector to take advantage of
opportunities in the energy transmission,” said Kenyatta
when he addressed a business delegation from France in
Nairobi on Tuesday.

The Kenya
Electricity Transmission Company, a state agency, is the
only one entity that invests in electricity transmission
while the listed Kenya Power, in which the government
has substantial shareholding, enjoys monopoly in
electricity distribution.

Data from
the ministry of energy shows demand exists for
investment in transmission lines to evacuate renewable
power like geothermal, solar and wind from Kenya’s
remote regions.

There are
also opportunities for evacuation of crude and refined
oil from the north-western Kenya where production of oil
is expected to start soon.

The
president said the government’s initiative known as the
Last Mile Connectivity, meant to connect as many Kenyans
as possible to electricity, is still ongoing and
therefore presents opportunities for the private sector.

“Under this
initiative, connections to the household increased from
28 percent of total households in 2013 to 60 percent of
households by 2017,” said Kenyatta.

He was
addressing sixty business executives from France
representing 50 companies. The companies are in Kenya to
explore opportunities for investment and joint ventures.

The
president told the business delegation that unlike
before, Africa is now interested in bilateral
engagements that provide a win-win outcome and that the
continent is open for investments because it wants
growth for its people.